The right to own property

Under Article II, Section 3, Inalienable rights of the Montana Constitution: "All persons are born free and have certain inalienable rights." These rights include (but are not limited to) "acquiring, possessing and protecting property."

Section 17: Due process of Law: "No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law."

Section 29: Eminent domain: "Private property shall not be taken or damaged for public use without just compensation to the full extent of the loss having been first made to the or paid into court for the owner."

I was 7 years old when my parents bought their first piece of property in Montana. Their excitement and pride was contagious and remain a part of my memory today. They never missed an opportunity to stress how important the ownership of private property was to an individual. They emphasized that people had the right to build on or use their property in any way they wanted, within regulations and reasonableness.

Property ownership, with its constitutional guaranteed inalienable rights should always be respected. I believe the owning of property is a fundamental freedom we have as Montanans. And no government should be allowed to unreasonably take, tax or control your property. As your senator, I pledge to protect your property rights. Thank you.

Dan Griffin

SD 5 candidate

Ferndale